Wondering in the middle of July

Just Wondering ... How long will it take the NHRA management and their national event track operators to figure out that $50 for a ticket to see meaningless qualifying just won’t work.

Just Wondering … What Bill Bader Sr. at Norwalk and John Bandimere Sr. at Denver know that no one else does? Those two track operators always seem to be able to consistently sell more tickets than any other drag strip operator.

Just Wondering … Will someone please give me a real, valid reason (other than tradition) to return to quarter-mile racing?

Just Wondering … Why almost every one of NHRA’s track operator/partners can find a way to pave their pro pits and at the U.S. Nationals some pros and all of the sportsman racers are still parking on gravel or grass?

Just Wondering … How far will the rating for the NHRA/ESPN2 broadcasts have to drop before the NHRA suits demand that ESPN make some changes in the booth and the production trailer?

Just Wondering … Did you know that with Tony George’s sacking by the Hulman family there are no more major racing leagues that aren’t controlled by non-racing executives? Mr. George was a racer and a race team owner. That’s a sad commentary.

Just Wondering … Why the NHRA doesn’t reward the pro racer leading the Full Throttle points program after Indy with a cash prize? There ought to be more of a reward than a minor points lead for 16 races of excellence.

Just Wondering … Am I the only one who thinks the fact that Tim Wilderson didn’t win the NHRA Funny Car World Championship last year is proof that the “Countdown to One” is a failed program? (The Pedregons don’t get a vote.)

Just Wondering … Speaking of the Countdown, wouldn’t it do a lot to make the U.S, Nationals a special race again if the winners of the pro classes would be seeded into the Countdown if they weren’t already in the top eight in points? Might make Indy more interesting and surely would bring a few more entries in the pro classes.

Just Wondering … The ADRL has a points program similar to the NHRA’s except they make the top eight points earners in each class race for the championship belt on one day. Why couldn’t they separate the Battle for the Belts from the season championship and reward racers for a full season of excellence?

Just Wondering … What IHRA’s future plans are for their once unique Pro Mod and Pro Stock programs with the noticeable loss of entries at this year’s national events?

Just Wondering … Wouldn’t it be a cool deal if the NHRA Pro Mod series actually started each year at the U.S. Nationals and ended up at the Las Vegas race instead of the current hopscotch series of races they do now? It might be easier on the racers, and holding the first Pro Mod race of the season at Indy would sure help make the U.S. Nationals a unique race.

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